It’s official: TNT picks up ‘Southland’

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‘Southland’ lives!

John Wells’ gritty cop drama, unceremoniously canceled by NBC before its second season premiere, has been picked up by cable network TNT as many a TV insider expected.

TNT made the news official this morning, announcing that it would air the first seven episodes (which aired earlier this year on NBC) as well as the six already-produced Season 2 episodes, which were completed before NBC decided not to bring the show back at all.

‘Southland’ will premiere on TNT on January 12.

Whether or not TNT will continue to produce new episodes beyond those that already exist will depend on how the show performs in the ratings. Also to be determined: Should the show’s life get extended by the cable network, will Wells be able to turn it into the darker, riskier show he wasn’t able to make for NBC?

-- Denise Martin